On opposite sides of the Mediterranean, yet so close, Ifremer and Tunisia's Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer are working together on marine science research. Today, they have decided to strengthen their collaboration by signing a scientific and technical cooperation framework agreement for a period of 5 years.
Ifremer is joining forces with the INSTM (Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer) to promote marine research. The INSTM is the focal point for ocean sciences in Tunisia. It conducts research and innovation in a wide range of disciplines and contributes to the sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture.
An initial videoconference on 28 April 2021 outlined the future collaboration in the fields of research, scientific and technological expertise and training. Present at this inaugural exchange on the Tunisian side were Elies Hamza, President of the Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles (INSTM's supervisory body), Hechmi Missaoui, Director General of the INSTM, Pierre Durand de Ramefort, Attaché de Coopération Scientifique et Universitaire, French Embassy in Tunisia and, on the Ifremer side, François Houllier, CEO, as well as representatives from the Scientific Department and the European and International Affairs Department".
The agreement targets key areas of work such as :
Ocean dynamics, biogeochemical cycles and climate change
Fisheries research and the ecosystem approach to fisheries
The development and sustainable management of fishing
Fisheries technologies
Aquaculture
Studying biodiversity and the marine environment
Marine protected areas
Marine biotechnologies
Renewable energies
The joint desire of the two institutes to develop their collaboration should lead to the launch in 2021 of a joint project on the impact of global change on fish populations in the Mediterranean, which will be supported by the Agence Française de Développement.